Adult actors, teens, sought for ‘You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown’ open call

Apple Tree Arts welcomes adults and teens 16 years and older to participate in open auditions for the musical “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” Nov. 7 and Nov. 8, 6:00-8:30 p.m. at One Grafton Common in Grafton. Interested actors are invited to email Matt Mariner, creative dramatics manager at matt.m@appletreearts.org to schedule a time slot.

“You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” is a heart-warming, fun show to watch that’s easily adaptable to our theatre at the Great Hall,” explained Matt Mariner producer, director and choreographer of the musical. “The play’s storyline and great music appeals to adults as well as to children. It’s interesting for an adult audience to watch adult actors portray children and see them (the actors) learn first-hand the ups and downs children experience daily,” Mariner said. He will be joined by music director Keri McCarthy, a professional voice teacher and theatre educator.

        The musical comedy is based on the characters made popular by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in his comic strip, “Peanuts.” The play follows a day in the life of Charlie Brown and his friends Lucy, Linus, Sally, Schroeder and Snoopy. The 1967 production with book by John Gordon and music and lyrics by Clark Gesner was modernized in the 1999 Broadway revival. A few of the musical numbers were changed and new ones were added.

Theatre attendees will enjoy favorite songs such as “Beethoven Day,” “Happiness” and “My New Philosophy” from the two-act show.
 Rehearsals are scheduled three times a week on Sundays from 2:00-5:00 p.m., Monday and Thursday evenings from 6:30-9:00 p.m. After January, the cast will meet on Wednesday evenings, too. Additional rehearsals will be added as needed for the Feb. 7, 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 8, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. performances. No participation fee is required.

Founded in 1989, Apple Tree Arts, a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization has grown to serve over 1,000 children and adults annually with early childhood music classes, group keyboard lessons, private music and voice instruction, ensembles, theatre arts programs and concerts.  For more information, visit www.appletreearts.org